Winnipeg Free Press
Posted:
Sponsored by:
YOU ONLY HAVE ONE LIFETIME TO PREVENT FRAGILITY—GET ACTIVE!
Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue which can lead to an increased risk of fracture. In Manitoba, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will suffer an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime.
The following are warning signs that your bones may be weakening and at increased risk of fracture:
1. HAVE YOU LOST HEIGHT?
One of the first signs of osteoporosis due to vertebral compression fraction can be height loss of ¾ inch (2 cm) in one year or 2 ½ inches (6 cm) since your mid-twenties. While occasionally painless, it is more common that the patient experiences severe back pain, deformity of the spine (increased kyphotic curve or scoliosis) and height loss. Your physician will refer you for spinal X-Ray and a Bone Density Test to assess for spinal fracture and osteoporosis.